Frisco, TX to Amarillo, TX is 348.8 miles and takes about 6h 27m via US Highway 287, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains, moving from one part of Texas to another. It's primarily a highway drive, making it straightforward for a single-day excursion. You'll find this route efficient for getting from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to the Texas Panhandle.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
174.4 miles from Frisco, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 287
75.4 mi
1h 17m
North US Highway 287
72.5 mi
1h 15m
US Highway 287 East
40.5 mi
42m
East 11th Street
28.7 mi
32m
Boykin Drive
26.2 mi
28m
US Highway 287 West
25.7 mi
26m
US Highway 380 West
21.5 mi
24m
I 35E
9.4 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 287
— 75.4 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Frisco, TX and Amarillo, TX.
1
Start on Main Street
3.9 mi·7 min·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on King Road
0.5 mi·57 sec·King Road
3
Turn right onto Witt Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Witt Road
4
Turn left onto FM 720
2.7 mi·5 min·East Eldorado Parkway
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on FM 720
3.8 mi·6 min·West Eldorado Parkway
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on LLTB
2.1 mi·3 min·Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge
7
Continue on East Swisher Road
1.0 mi·1 min·East Swisher Road
8
Turn right onto South Interstate 35E
0.5 mi·49 sec·South Interstate 35E
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 35E North, US 77 North
10
Merge onto I 35E
9.4 mi·10 min·I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 35; US 77
0.1 mi·9 sec·I 35; US 77
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 469Toward US 380: University Drive
13
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.4 mi·47 sec·North Interstate 35
14
Turn left onto US 380
3.4 mi·4 min·West University Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Continue on US 380
22 mi·24 min·US Highway 380 West
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
17
Merge onto US 81; US 287
72 mi·1 hr 15 min·North US Highway 287
18
Continue on US 281; US 287
0.8 mi·58 sec·Lloyd Ruby Overpass
19
Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287
2.4 mi·3 min·Central Freeway
Use the straight lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 287
5.3 mi·5 min·Northwest Freeway
Exit 3AToward US 287 North: Vernon, AmarilloUse the slight left / straight lanes.
21
Continue on US 287
40 mi·42 min·US Highway 287 East
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
22
Continue on US 70; US 183; US 287
4.1 mi·4 min·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on US 287
26 mi·26 min·US Highway 287 West
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on US 287
29 mi·32 min·East 11th Street
25
Continue on US 287
2.8 mi·3 min·Avenue F Northeast
26
Continue on US 287
14 mi·14 min·US Highway 287
27
Continue on US 287
0.7 mi·1 min·Burnett Street
28
Continue on US 287
14 mi·13 min·US Highway 287
29
Turn straight onto US 287
26 mi·28 min·Boykin Drive
30
Continue on US 287
1.6 mi·1 min·East 2nd Street
31
Continue on US 287
28 mi·28 min·US Highway 287
32
Continue on US 287; FM 1151
1.1 mi·2 min·East 1st Street
33
Continue on US 287
20 mi·20 min·US Highway 287
34
Keep slight right at fork onto East Interstate Drive
329 ft·8 sec·East Interstate Drive
Toward East 3rd Avenue
35
Keep slight right at fork onto Southeast 3rd Avenue
2.6 mi·3 min·Southeast 3rd Avenue
36
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
37
Merge onto Loop 335
1.3 mi·1 min·North Lakeside Drive
38
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward US 60, I 40 Business: Amarillo Boulevard
39
Turn left onto I 40 Business; US Historic 66; US 60
4.4 mi·5 min·East Amarillo Boulevard
40
Continue on I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
0.9 mi·1 min·I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
41
Continue on I 40 Business
0.1 mi·17 sec·East Amarillo Boulevard
42
Arrive at destination
I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 27m estimated drive time, leaving Frisco in the morning allows ample daylight to reach Amarillo. This is a one-day drive, so you have flexibility in planning stops. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 75.4-mile stretch on US Highway 287, and plan your fill-ups accordingly. The estimated fuel cost is around $51, so budget for that.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 174.4 miles from Frisco, TX, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 77 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 174.4 miles or 3h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Amarillo, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Frisco, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Frisco, TX
This is one driving day of about 348.8 miles and 6h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 miles from Frisco, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 287 for about 75.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.2 and 339 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
15.2 mi into trip|~26m in|South Interstate 35E
Turn right onto South Interstate 35E
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
15.9 mi into trip|~27m in|I 35E
Merge onto I 35E
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
25.5 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward US 380: University Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 469
Toward US 380: University Drive
9
126.9 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|US 287 / Northwest Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 287 / Northwest Freeway toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 3A
Toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo
5
339 mi into trip|~6h 14m in|East Interstate Drive
Keep slight right at fork onto East Interstate Drive toward East 3rd Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward East 3rd Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.77 one way
$95.55 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg122 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$53.36
$106.73
premium
$4.23
$58.02
$116.04
diesel
$4.80
$65.86
$131.72
Estimated Tolls: $0.15
Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge
(2.1 mi)$0.15
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
104.6
1
$36.62
$16.74
Efficient EV
87.2
0
$30.52
$13.95
EV Truck/SUV
139.5
1
$48.83
$22.32
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Frisco, TX
Late night
in Frisco on Monday
Local time
4:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 10 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:03AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:02AM CDT until July 17 at 6:45AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Amarillo, TX
Late night
in Amarillo on Monday
Local time
4:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
S 10 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:03AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:02AM CDT until July 17 at 6:45AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
14 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 27m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
National Monument
13,000 years ago, Alibates Flint was used by mammoth hunters as a source of flint for tools. Learn how important this site was to the survival, commerce, and culture of the people of the High Plains.
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 348.8
Set within the wide‑open Texas Plains, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area offers a peaceful retreat in the heart of rugged grasslands. Over thousands of years, the Canadian River carved dramatic 2...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 348.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 75% of this 348.8-mile route is on highways, primarily US Highway 287. You'll experience a longest stretch of 75.4 miles on US Highway 287, offering a good period of uninterrupted cruising. The transition from highway to surface roads will likely occur gradually as you approach your destination, marked by increasing local traffic and more frequent exits.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
42 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.4 mi on US Highway 287.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 287 and North US Highway 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.2 miles in near South Interstate 35E.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 348.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 15.2 miles (South Interstate 35E): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles (I 35E): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 27m. Total distance: 348.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 27m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.4 miles on US Highway 287. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.15 in tolls one way, starting with Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 32 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Amarillo, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 32 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 15.2 miles (South Interstate 35E): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles (I 35E): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument and Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 12.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Amarillo, TX before the return drive.
